Eaglekiller Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Hey fellas I just got my second Pontiac Straight 8 today, first in running condition. So I want to do an oil change on it looks like the guy ran standard oil in it., Castrol 10w -30. But as I understand the internal oil filter setup of these engines, a non detergent oil would be a better choice. What do you guys use? Brand and weight, I live out in the heat 105+F. Coldest might be 45F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 There's just no reason to use non-detergent oil anymore. Any modern oil will be better than whatever they used when the car was new. It uses a bypass style filter, not a full flow, so that shouldn't present any problems. I run either straight 40 weight when I can get it, otherwise 15W40 Shell Rotella in my 1941 Buick, which has a similar oiling system to your Pontiac. Don't sweat it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekiller Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Appreciate it, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 I wouldn't use non-detergent in anything today. The 10w30 will be fine. If it has trouble holding decent oil pressure at cruising speed when it is really hot out, then use something thicker. If you are concerned about Pontiac's "100,000 mile" internal oil filter, You could drop the oil pan and clean it out. Nice car! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 13 hours ago, Eaglekiller said: Hey fellas I just got my second Pontiac Straight 8 today, first in running condition. So I want to do an oil change on it looks like the guy ran standard oil in it., Castrol 10w -30. But as I understand the internal oil filter setup of these engines, a non detergent oil would be a better choice. What do you guys use? Brand and weight, I live out in the heat 105+F. Coldest might be 45F. i would recommend shell rotella 15-40 and add a bottle of zinc additive. charles l. coker 1953 pontiac technical advisor pontiac oakland club int'l. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 14 hours ago, Eaglekiller said: Hey fellas I just got my second Pontiac Straight 8 today, first in running condition. So I want to do an oil change on it looks like the guy ran standard oil in it., Castrol 10w -30. But as I understand the internal oil filter setup of these engines, a non detergent oil would be a better choice. What do you guys use? Brand and weight, I live out in the heat 105+F. Coldest might be 45F. Does it have factory a/c ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekiller Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 53 minutes ago, pontiac1953 said: i would recommend shell rotella 15-40 and add a bottle of zinc additive. charles l. coker 1953 pontiac technical advisor pontiac oakland club int'l. Yeah just picked some Rotella up and Lucas oil Zinc additive. Didnt know the Rotella was a diesel engine oil? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekiller Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 48 minutes ago, pontiac1953 said: Does it have factory a/c ? No AC option for me, but all the windows roll down smooth so I kinda have AC, HAHA 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 17 hours ago, Matt Harwood said: It uses a bypass style filter, GM used an internal oil refiner on Pontiac eight engines from the mid thirties until the advent of the V8's in the fifties. Copied from https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/oil-oil-filter-1953-pontiac-i8-1954-hemi.581771/ Straight 8 Pontiacs had a patented, non-throw-away filter in the oil pan that swirled the oil and changed directions so the particles dropped into a bowl. It was supposed to be very effective. You might want to drop the pan and clean it out before running it much. I don't think the block had any provision for an external oil filter as the oil lines were cast into the block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekiller Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Do you guys use the Rotella for the Oil Bath air cleaner also? I have some sun ethic lying around I wouldn’t mind using. Gonna search YouTube and this sight for instructions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 My manual says to use 50 weight oil in the air cleaner. It needs to be heavy enough to stay in the bottom of the can and not aerate. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekiller Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Thanks for all the help guys I used the Rotella, and a Bottle of Lucas Oil TB Zinc Plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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